Dice box



S. GESSLER Nov. 10, 1936.

DICE BOX Filed April 20, 1936 Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DICE BOX tion of Illinois Application April 20, 1936, Serial No. 75,454

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a dice box.

' More particularly, the invention relates to a box, or cup, for the reception of dice to be tossed about therein upon shaking the box, after which the dice are discharged from the box upon a suitable board or mat.

It is common in many games of chance to utilize dice and, while the dice are in many instances shaken within the hand or hands of players, the element of chance has often been defeated by some who have attained such skill with dice as to be able to ascertain the throw total by palming the dice, thus taking undue advantage of others not so skilled and who enjoy the games from the standpoint of chance only.

While boxes or cups have heretofore been employed for shaking dice they have been of such construction that skilled players were still able to ascertain the throw by palming the dice at the mouth of the box or cup. Thus while boxes as heretofore constructed may to some extent eliminate unfair play with dice, as is common when they are shaken in the hand, the objection to the hand shaking has not been entirely overcome.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a box or cup for shaking dice which is of such construction that the objections above noted are overcome.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a box or cup for shaking dice which is provided with a sharp edge at the mouth thereof tending to keep a player from resting his hand over the mouth for the purpose of palming the dice.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a box or cup for shaking dice which is provided with a removable base member adapted. to prevent marring of a surface on which the box rests as well as acting to absorb vibrations and thus reduce the sound when the dice are being shaken within the box.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of a dice box having a rib or bead adjacent the open end thereof which is tapered outwardly to form a thin edge for the box, whereby an opening is provided for the box of maximum diameter and the thin edge is reinforced by the bead.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a box or cup for shaking dice which is neat in appearance, durable, and which can be constructed at relatively low cost.

With the above objects in view as well as others that will become obvious during the course of the following disclosure, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of same,

and, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elcvational view of the box or cup constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. 5

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional View of the box or cup and,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters wherein like characters designate like 10 parts in the different views on the drawing, l0 designates the body of the box which is preferably and as illustrated of cylindrical formation. The body Ill adjacent the open end or mouth thereof is provided with an inwardly directed rib 15 or bead H which as is more clearly indicated in Fig. 2 tapers outwardly into substantial intersection with the outer cylindrical surface of the body ID to provide a relatively sharp circular edge I2 at the mouth of the box.

The body l0 adjacent the closed bottom thereof is preferably flared outwardly as indicated at [3 in Fig. 2 to provide a circular rib for retaining an elastic cushion base member M.

The base member l4 may be retained by other means. In fact, the elasticity thereof would retain same in position though less effectively in the absence of the rib l3.

Furthermore the box may be of frusto-conical form instead of cylindrical as illustrated whereby the base member I4 would be firmly retained in position.

The box is preferably constructed of leather, but may advantageously be constructed of cast rubber or other material. The novel features of the present invention are not dependent upon any specific shape of box or material of which the box may be constructed.

By the provision of the sharp edge I2 the heretofore common practice of some players in pressing their palms down upon the mouth of the box to exercise unfair play by palming the dice is effectively overcome for the reason that such sharp edge offers an uncomfortable rest for the palm and thus with the box herein disclosed games of chance utilizing dice can be enjoyed by everyone without being taken advantage of by some who are skilled in the palming of dice and who create a loss of interest in all concerned.

Furthermore the lower relatively wide portion of the rib ll ofiers an obstruction to the dice in contact with the inner wall of the body member Ill and accordingly functions to prevent such wall contacting dice from engaging the palm of a player even if placed over the mouth of the box.

Furthermore the rib ll functions as a reinforcement for the thin edge of the box and at the same time provides for the inner beveled surface of substantial extent to form the thin edge. By the provision of the thin edge in the manner disclosed an opening of maximum diameter is secured whereby the dice can be put into the box easier and faster, and whereby the common practice of throwing what is known as cocked dice (where one or more dice fall on top of one another) is substantially defeated.

The cushion base I4 which preferably is constructed of soft rubber provides a cushion surface whereby the box will not mar surfaces upon which it rests. Furthermore this cushion base will act to absorb vibrations within the body of the box or cup when shaking dice and will thus reduce the noise otherwise present.

While I have disclosed but a single specific em bodiment of my invention, same is to be considered illustrative only, and not restrictive as the scope of the invention is defined in the subjoined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A box or cup for shaking dice comprising a body member having a closed bottom and an open top, said body member being provided with a rib adjacent said open top, the outer wall of said body member and the inner wall of said rib intersecting to define a sharp edge at said open top.

2. A box or cup for shaking dice comprising a body member having a closed bottom and an open top, said body member being provided with a rib on the inner wall thereof adjacent said open top, the said rib having an inner wall flaring outwardly into intersection with the outer wall of said body member to provide a sharp edge at said open top.

3. The construction defined in claim 2 wherein said rib overhangs the inner wall of said body member to provide a dice engaging stop.

4. A receptacle for holding and shaking dice comprising a body member having a closed bottom and an open top, said body member adjacent said open top having a cylindrical surface and a frusto-conical surface intersecting each other in a sharp edge defining said open top.

5. A box or cup for shaking dice comprising a cylindrical body member having a thickened portion adjacent one end thereof, said thickened portion having intersecting walls for providing a sharp edge and an opening of greater diameter than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body member.

6. A box or cup for shaking dice comprising a cylindrical body member having intersecting walls adjacent one end thereof for providing a sharp edge, and a reinforcement for said edge on said body member inwardly of and adjacent said sharp edge.

SAMUEL GESSLER. 

